Chapter 6: Oscar's Rescue
As soon as the Crimson Lupi were gone, the group raced back to the pack, hoping to capture a lupo before they escaped. They arrived back to see the Crimson Pack in full retreat.
“Stop them!” Stinky yelled, rushing toward the retreating wolves. “We can’t let them get away!”
Unfortunately, they were too slow, and the Crimson Pack retreated into the forest. Emily came rushing up to the group.
“Adam!” she exclaimed. “What happened out there?”
“We got ambushed da another group of Lupi and they took Oscar,” Adam explained quickly.
“Now we need to catch one of them so we can find out where they’re going,” Stinky said.
“Oh, like this guy?” came a voice behind them.
They turned to see Jonas with a crimson lupo laying at his feet, exhausted. Everyone stared at him in shock and disbelief.
“Wait,” Martin said. “How did you-“
“What, capture him?” Jonas finished. “I may be an omega, but I can still fight.”
“So,” Claudette said. “What do we do with him?”
“I think we should let Jax and Jonas handle this one,” Stinky said. “We wouldn’t have this lead if it wasn’t for them.”
“Alright,” Jax detto excitedly.
“But try and work fast,” Stinky said. “We don’t have much time. So see what te can get out of this guy.”
“We’re on it,” Jonas replied.
As Stinky was walking away, he shouted one last remark.
“Oh, and no torturing the prisoner!”
“Ugh,” Jax sighed. “How does he always know?”
“So, what should we do to him?” Jonas asked.
“Wait, what?” the lupo said, surprised. “I thought your boss detto te couldn’t torture me.”
“We’re not gonna torture you,” Jax reassured him.
“We just have a few domande for you,” Jonas finished. “First, how’s the job?”
“The job?” the lupo said, confused.
“Being a murderous lupo who kills for fun,” Jonas replied.
“Oh,” the lupo said. “Well, I mean it’s okay. They mostly leave te alone, as long as te follow orders and don’t screw up, o else they kill you.”
“What about vacation?” Jax asked. “Do te get days off?”
“No,” the lupo answered. “They say we can’t afford to lose focus. Gotta keep the mind sharp, te know.”
“What’s up with those scars?” Jonas asked, referencing the V-shaped scar on his face.
“Those are our initiation scars,” the lupo explained. “Everyone gets them. The mark of the Crimson Pack. It symbolizes severing the ties to your past, your family. The Crimson Pack becomes your home and te can never go back. There’s only one way te leave the Crimson Pack.”
“And how do te get them?” Jax asked.
“The Wolfslayer,” the lupo replied, calmly. “He personally gives them to us. Every single one.”
“Okay, and what about where te live?” Jonas asked. “I would think that constantly moving around and never settling in one place would be a bit stressful.”
“It is at first,” the lupo replied. “But te get used to it. We don’t really sposta around a whole lot, actually.”
“Hmm,” Jonas wondered. “Well, in that case…where have te taken Oscar!? Huh!? Tell us! Where!?”
“Ahem,” Jax said.
“What?” Jonas whispered, walking over to him. “Can we talk about this later? I’m kinda in the middle of something.”
“No,” Jax replied. “We’ll do this now.”
“Fine,” Jonas gave in. “Every time we do this, you’re always bad lupo and I’m always good wolf. It’s my turn to be bad wolf.”
“What about last time?” Jax continued. “You were bad lupo last time.”
“No,” Jonas said. “Last time, I made Friends with the suspect while te threatened to torture him.”
“That’s not how I remember it,” Jax replied.
“Oh, so now you’re all about remembering things?” Jonas asked.
It was at that time that Steven approached them to check on their progress and wasn’t surprised to find them arguing.
“Have te two dimwits gotten any information out of this guy yet?” he asked.
“He was just about to crack,” Jonas said. “But someone ruined it.”
“Oh, please,” Jax replied. “He was never going to spill the beans the way te were grilling him. te shouldn’t be grilling beans anyway. Weird.”
Steven sighed.
“Why do we trust te two with anything?”
“I’ll get him to talk,” Jax said, confidently. “Just watch.”
Jax turned to the lupo and got right in his face.
“Where have te taken-“
He stopped when he heard someone else approaching.
“Oh, come on!”
Lisa came running up to the group.
“Another lupo just gave up where Oscar is being held,” she said. “Come on, let’s go.”
“What?!” Jax exclaimed. “Are te serious? I was so close-“
“Were not,” Jonas argued.
“Yes, I was,” Jax replied.
“Were not.”
“Yes, I was.”
“Were not.”
“He was gonna be spillin’ and grillin’.”
“Would te two just go?!” Steven shouted.
“He was gonna grill and spill those beans,” Jax remarked as they began walking away.
As they met up with Runt and the others, they noticed King and the Rogues approaching them.
“What are te doing here?” Runt asked.
“We’ve been under attack from the same pack of Lupi that’s been attacking you,” King explained. “We’ve come to help.”
“They’re called the Crimson Pack,” Runt replied. “And they work for the Wolfslayer.”
A look of fear suddenly came over King’s face.
“Whoa,” Runt said, surprised at King’s reaction. “I didn’t think te were afraid of anything.”
“That name instills fear in all wolves,” King said. “Don’t throw it around so loosely successivo time. I heard about your friend, Oscar. What’s your plan?”
“Yes,” Runt said, nervously. “My plan. My plan.”
“You have no plan, do you?” Lisa asked.
“Nope,” Runt replied. “I have no plan.”
“You’re too gullible, Runt,” King said. “That’s your problem. I should know. I’ve tricked te plenty of times.”
“Yeah, well, I’m still here,” Runt said.
“Okay, enough talk,” Stinky said. “Let’s go.”
“Go where?” Steven asked. “Jax and Jonas got nothing out of the wolf.”
“They didn’t have to,” Lisa replied.
“Oh,” Jax said. “I get it. Lisa lied to that wolf, knowing he would return to the pack to warn them so Stinky could track his scent. That’s brilliant.”
“That’s why I Amore you,” Runt detto to Lisa.
“Ew,” Steven exclaimed. “Get a room.”
“Okay, let’s go, people,” Stinky urged. “We’ll discuss the plan on the way.”
“Wait, are we bringing the whole pack?” Martin asked.
“The whole pack,” Stinky replied.
The entire pack, plus the Rogues moved out with Stinky leading the way. They traveled through the forest for a bit until Stinky stopped.
“Okay,” he said. “We’re here. Runt, what’s the plan?”
“Oscar’s rescue is essential to our fight against the Crimson Pack,” Runt began. “He’s one of the strongest Lupi we’ve seen, and we can’t afford not to have him on our side. So, here’s the plan. They’re not going to leave Oscar alone like we did, even with an escort. Right now, they’re probably keeping him in the center of the pack. We’ll never be able to fight through them all if we attack them head on. They wouldn’t risk Oscar being in the middle of the fight, so they’ll sposta him to the back. They also know we’re coming, so they’re going to be moving away from us. We’ll send some Lupi ahead to trick them into thinking we’re ahead of them and drive them back here where the rest of the pack will be waiting.”
“You do realize that Oscar’s going to be very heavily guarded, right?” Steven asked. “I’m sorry, but there’s no way I’m charging head first into an entire pack of bloodthirsty wolves.”
“Don’t worry,” Runt replied. “Stinky and I will get Oscar.”
“Good. I like that plan,” Steven said.
“And how do te expect to do that?” Mick asked. “I mean the idiot does have a point, te can’t fight through all those wolves.”
“I’m standing right here,” Steven said, annoyed.
“Trust me,” Runt reassured them. “Now, Adam will lead the charge against the pack.”
“Oh, keep going,” Steven said. “This is the best plan ever.”
“And what about us?” Jax asked. “What are we doing?”
“Creating a diversion, da sneaking around the pack and driving them toward us,” Runt said, smiling.
“Oh, te idiots!” Steven exclaimed. “Why did te open your big, fat-“
“And Steven, you’re going with them,” Runt said. “Congratulations.”
“This is the worst plan ever,” Steven grumpily said.
“Okay, everyone get into position,” Stinky said. “We gotta work fast if we want to save Oscar.”
Stinky and Runt left the group and entered the forest a few yards away from the pack.
“So, how do we get through the pack to Oscar?” Stinky asked.
Runt looked up at a nearby albero and Stinky began to object.
“No way.”
“I taught te how to climb a tree,” Runt reassured him. “You’ll be fine.”
“That albero will never hold me,” Stinky said.
“We don’t have to climb up very far,” Runt replied. “Just high enough so they won’t see us when they pass under us. Stinky, you’re a leader now. And sometimes, a leader’s gotta be a little crazy.”
Runt began climbing the tree, leaving Stinky below.
“I hate it when he’s right,” Stinky detto to himself as he followed Runt up the tree.
“How come we always get the fun jobs?” Stinky asked as he tried his best to hold onto the tree.
“Oh, this isn’t the fun part,” Runt replied, smiling. “Getting Oscar out of the pack is the fun part.”
It wasn’t long before they heard howling in front of them as Jax, Jonas, and Steven sent the Crimson Pack back toward the others. The pack passed under Stinky and Runt as they rushed to escape. Just as planned, Oscar and his escort were the last to pass and Stinky and Runt dropped out of the tree. Oscar pushed past the few Lupi behind him and rushed over to them while some of the Lupi turned and began to attack. Stinky and Runt rushed to defend Oscar, but he stayed behind. Stinky turned and looked at Oscar.
“Oscar, what are te doing?” Stinky asked. “Come on, get up here and fight.”
“I…can’t,” Oscar said, frightened.
“What, why not?” Stinky asked.
“I’ve never been in an actual fight before,” Oscar replied. “I’m afraid. I know I’m a red lupo and I’m supposed to be this badass fighter and all, but I can’t do it.”
“Listen to me, Oscar,” Runt said. “You’re a red wolf, one of the most dangerous and feared Lupi on the planet. te can do it, and te will do it. These Lupi tried to kill te for a reason. It’s because they see te as a threat. They’re afraid of you. It’s time te remind them why.”
A sense of determination filled Oscar.
“You know what?” he said. “I will do it.”
“Good,” Runt said. “Now get in there.”
Oscar rushed into battle as Stinky looked at Runt in surprise.
“What?” Runt asked.
“Nothing,” Stinky replied. “It’s just, I didn’t know te were such a badass.”
As soon as the Crimson Lupi were gone, the group raced back to the pack, hoping to capture a lupo before they escaped. They arrived back to see the Crimson Pack in full retreat.
“Stop them!” Stinky yelled, rushing toward the retreating wolves. “We can’t let them get away!”
Unfortunately, they were too slow, and the Crimson Pack retreated into the forest. Emily came rushing up to the group.
“Adam!” she exclaimed. “What happened out there?”
“We got ambushed da another group of Lupi and they took Oscar,” Adam explained quickly.
“Now we need to catch one of them so we can find out where they’re going,” Stinky said.
“Oh, like this guy?” came a voice behind them.
They turned to see Jonas with a crimson lupo laying at his feet, exhausted. Everyone stared at him in shock and disbelief.
“Wait,” Martin said. “How did you-“
“What, capture him?” Jonas finished. “I may be an omega, but I can still fight.”
“So,” Claudette said. “What do we do with him?”
“I think we should let Jax and Jonas handle this one,” Stinky said. “We wouldn’t have this lead if it wasn’t for them.”
“Alright,” Jax detto excitedly.
“But try and work fast,” Stinky said. “We don’t have much time. So see what te can get out of this guy.”
“We’re on it,” Jonas replied.
As Stinky was walking away, he shouted one last remark.
“Oh, and no torturing the prisoner!”
“Ugh,” Jax sighed. “How does he always know?”
“So, what should we do to him?” Jonas asked.
“Wait, what?” the lupo said, surprised. “I thought your boss detto te couldn’t torture me.”
“We’re not gonna torture you,” Jax reassured him.
“We just have a few domande for you,” Jonas finished. “First, how’s the job?”
“The job?” the lupo said, confused.
“Being a murderous lupo who kills for fun,” Jonas replied.
“Oh,” the lupo said. “Well, I mean it’s okay. They mostly leave te alone, as long as te follow orders and don’t screw up, o else they kill you.”
“What about vacation?” Jax asked. “Do te get days off?”
“No,” the lupo answered. “They say we can’t afford to lose focus. Gotta keep the mind sharp, te know.”
“What’s up with those scars?” Jonas asked, referencing the V-shaped scar on his face.
“Those are our initiation scars,” the lupo explained. “Everyone gets them. The mark of the Crimson Pack. It symbolizes severing the ties to your past, your family. The Crimson Pack becomes your home and te can never go back. There’s only one way te leave the Crimson Pack.”
“And how do te get them?” Jax asked.
“The Wolfslayer,” the lupo replied, calmly. “He personally gives them to us. Every single one.”
“Okay, and what about where te live?” Jonas asked. “I would think that constantly moving around and never settling in one place would be a bit stressful.”
“It is at first,” the lupo replied. “But te get used to it. We don’t really sposta around a whole lot, actually.”
“Hmm,” Jonas wondered. “Well, in that case…where have te taken Oscar!? Huh!? Tell us! Where!?”
“Ahem,” Jax said.
“What?” Jonas whispered, walking over to him. “Can we talk about this later? I’m kinda in the middle of something.”
“No,” Jax replied. “We’ll do this now.”
“Fine,” Jonas gave in. “Every time we do this, you’re always bad lupo and I’m always good wolf. It’s my turn to be bad wolf.”
“What about last time?” Jax continued. “You were bad lupo last time.”
“No,” Jonas said. “Last time, I made Friends with the suspect while te threatened to torture him.”
“That’s not how I remember it,” Jax replied.
“Oh, so now you’re all about remembering things?” Jonas asked.
It was at that time that Steven approached them to check on their progress and wasn’t surprised to find them arguing.
“Have te two dimwits gotten any information out of this guy yet?” he asked.
“He was just about to crack,” Jonas said. “But someone ruined it.”
“Oh, please,” Jax replied. “He was never going to spill the beans the way te were grilling him. te shouldn’t be grilling beans anyway. Weird.”
Steven sighed.
“Why do we trust te two with anything?”
“I’ll get him to talk,” Jax said, confidently. “Just watch.”
Jax turned to the lupo and got right in his face.
“Where have te taken-“
He stopped when he heard someone else approaching.
“Oh, come on!”
Lisa came running up to the group.
“Another lupo just gave up where Oscar is being held,” she said. “Come on, let’s go.”
“What?!” Jax exclaimed. “Are te serious? I was so close-“
“Were not,” Jonas argued.
“Yes, I was,” Jax replied.
“Were not.”
“Yes, I was.”
“Were not.”
“He was gonna be spillin’ and grillin’.”
“Would te two just go?!” Steven shouted.
“He was gonna grill and spill those beans,” Jax remarked as they began walking away.
As they met up with Runt and the others, they noticed King and the Rogues approaching them.
“What are te doing here?” Runt asked.
“We’ve been under attack from the same pack of Lupi that’s been attacking you,” King explained. “We’ve come to help.”
“They’re called the Crimson Pack,” Runt replied. “And they work for the Wolfslayer.”
A look of fear suddenly came over King’s face.
“Whoa,” Runt said, surprised at King’s reaction. “I didn’t think te were afraid of anything.”
“That name instills fear in all wolves,” King said. “Don’t throw it around so loosely successivo time. I heard about your friend, Oscar. What’s your plan?”
“Yes,” Runt said, nervously. “My plan. My plan.”
“You have no plan, do you?” Lisa asked.
“Nope,” Runt replied. “I have no plan.”
“You’re too gullible, Runt,” King said. “That’s your problem. I should know. I’ve tricked te plenty of times.”
“Yeah, well, I’m still here,” Runt said.
“Okay, enough talk,” Stinky said. “Let’s go.”
“Go where?” Steven asked. “Jax and Jonas got nothing out of the wolf.”
“They didn’t have to,” Lisa replied.
“Oh,” Jax said. “I get it. Lisa lied to that wolf, knowing he would return to the pack to warn them so Stinky could track his scent. That’s brilliant.”
“That’s why I Amore you,” Runt detto to Lisa.
“Ew,” Steven exclaimed. “Get a room.”
“Okay, let’s go, people,” Stinky urged. “We’ll discuss the plan on the way.”
“Wait, are we bringing the whole pack?” Martin asked.
“The whole pack,” Stinky replied.
The entire pack, plus the Rogues moved out with Stinky leading the way. They traveled through the forest for a bit until Stinky stopped.
“Okay,” he said. “We’re here. Runt, what’s the plan?”
“Oscar’s rescue is essential to our fight against the Crimson Pack,” Runt began. “He’s one of the strongest Lupi we’ve seen, and we can’t afford not to have him on our side. So, here’s the plan. They’re not going to leave Oscar alone like we did, even with an escort. Right now, they’re probably keeping him in the center of the pack. We’ll never be able to fight through them all if we attack them head on. They wouldn’t risk Oscar being in the middle of the fight, so they’ll sposta him to the back. They also know we’re coming, so they’re going to be moving away from us. We’ll send some Lupi ahead to trick them into thinking we’re ahead of them and drive them back here where the rest of the pack will be waiting.”
“You do realize that Oscar’s going to be very heavily guarded, right?” Steven asked. “I’m sorry, but there’s no way I’m charging head first into an entire pack of bloodthirsty wolves.”
“Don’t worry,” Runt replied. “Stinky and I will get Oscar.”
“Good. I like that plan,” Steven said.
“And how do te expect to do that?” Mick asked. “I mean the idiot does have a point, te can’t fight through all those wolves.”
“I’m standing right here,” Steven said, annoyed.
“Trust me,” Runt reassured them. “Now, Adam will lead the charge against the pack.”
“Oh, keep going,” Steven said. “This is the best plan ever.”
“And what about us?” Jax asked. “What are we doing?”
“Creating a diversion, da sneaking around the pack and driving them toward us,” Runt said, smiling.
“Oh, te idiots!” Steven exclaimed. “Why did te open your big, fat-“
“And Steven, you’re going with them,” Runt said. “Congratulations.”
“This is the worst plan ever,” Steven grumpily said.
“Okay, everyone get into position,” Stinky said. “We gotta work fast if we want to save Oscar.”
Stinky and Runt left the group and entered the forest a few yards away from the pack.
“So, how do we get through the pack to Oscar?” Stinky asked.
Runt looked up at a nearby albero and Stinky began to object.
“No way.”
“I taught te how to climb a tree,” Runt reassured him. “You’ll be fine.”
“That albero will never hold me,” Stinky said.
“We don’t have to climb up very far,” Runt replied. “Just high enough so they won’t see us when they pass under us. Stinky, you’re a leader now. And sometimes, a leader’s gotta be a little crazy.”
Runt began climbing the tree, leaving Stinky below.
“I hate it when he’s right,” Stinky detto to himself as he followed Runt up the tree.
“How come we always get the fun jobs?” Stinky asked as he tried his best to hold onto the tree.
“Oh, this isn’t the fun part,” Runt replied, smiling. “Getting Oscar out of the pack is the fun part.”
It wasn’t long before they heard howling in front of them as Jax, Jonas, and Steven sent the Crimson Pack back toward the others. The pack passed under Stinky and Runt as they rushed to escape. Just as planned, Oscar and his escort were the last to pass and Stinky and Runt dropped out of the tree. Oscar pushed past the few Lupi behind him and rushed over to them while some of the Lupi turned and began to attack. Stinky and Runt rushed to defend Oscar, but he stayed behind. Stinky turned and looked at Oscar.
“Oscar, what are te doing?” Stinky asked. “Come on, get up here and fight.”
“I…can’t,” Oscar said, frightened.
“What, why not?” Stinky asked.
“I’ve never been in an actual fight before,” Oscar replied. “I’m afraid. I know I’m a red lupo and I’m supposed to be this badass fighter and all, but I can’t do it.”
“Listen to me, Oscar,” Runt said. “You’re a red wolf, one of the most dangerous and feared Lupi on the planet. te can do it, and te will do it. These Lupi tried to kill te for a reason. It’s because they see te as a threat. They’re afraid of you. It’s time te remind them why.”
A sense of determination filled Oscar.
“You know what?” he said. “I will do it.”
“Good,” Runt said. “Now get in there.”
Oscar rushed into battle as Stinky looked at Runt in surprise.
“What?” Runt asked.
“Nothing,” Stinky replied. “It’s just, I didn’t know te were such a badass.”
